The Treatment of Cotton Cellulose with Aqueous Solutions of Ethylamine

Abstract
Aqueous solutions of ethylamine from 70 to 100% amine have been investigated as to their effectiveness in reducing the crystallinity of cotton cellulose. The degree of crystallinity of cotton cellulose was found to be little affected by ethylamine solutions containing 70% of the amine. The amine solutions of slightly higher concentration were found to strongly reduce both the crystallinity and leveling off degree of polymerization. This reduction continued with further increase in amine concentration. The sharp break in effectiveness at 70% ethylamine is discussed in terms of hydrogen bonding capacity in the amine-water-cellulose system.